Intel Quietly Begins to Sell Next-Generation Atom Microprocessors.

Intel Corp. has quietly updated its price-list and added a new-generation Atom microprocessors code-named Cedarview that will power nettops based on Cedar Trail platform. The new chips are inexpensive and considering their capabilities may become popular on the entry-level desktops or even notebooks.

The new Atom processors are D2500 (two cores, 1.86GHz) and D2700 (two cores with Hyper-Threading, 2.13GHz) that cost $42 and $52, respectively, in 1000-unit quantities. Interestingly, the new Atom products carry the same price tags as Celeron dual-core G530 (2.40GHz) and G540 (2.50GHz) chips based on "Sandy Bridge" micro-architecture that offer considerably higher performance.

Intel Cedarview system-on-chip with a new Atom core will feature DirectX 10.1-capable graphics engine that will have integrated high-definition video decoder (in order to enable Blu-ray disc playback on all Atom-based systems), will support higher clock-speeds, will have improved DDR3 memory controller and will feature digital interfaces for displays. The SoC will be made using 32nm fabrication process.

The new Cedarview processor will continue to utilize the NM10 input/output controller, which should make it easier for manufacturers to transit to the new Cedar Trail platform.

Thanks to integration of high-definition video decoder into the new Atom SoC, all systems powered by the new chip will be able to playback Blu-ray video. Unfortunately, since the new Atom SoC has outdated DirectX 10.1-class graphics core, it will be unable to use it for general purpose computing. As a result, even the forthcoming platform for inexpensive PCs from Intel will not be able to match AMD's Brazos in terms of multimedia functionality in many terms.

The new Cedar Trail platform is expected to enable more than 10 hours of battery life and weeks of standby, according to Intel.